Nail polish remover and cuticle softener



United States Patent NAIL POLISH REMOVER AND CUTICLE SOFTENER James M. Blackburn, Palo Alto, Calif.

No Drawing. Application July 8, 1954, Serial No. 442,189

3 Claims. (Cl. 167-85) This invention relates to a combination nail polish remover and cuticle softener.

Nail polishes are well-known which consist of nitrocellulose lacquers containing coloring materials. Such lacquers must be replaced from time to time and before a new coating of nail polish can be applied, the old polish must be removed. At such times, it is common practice to not only remove the old polish, but also apply a material around the nail which Will soften the cuticle, enabling the cuticle to be pushed back. In the past, it has been necessary to employ two separate solutions for accomplishing these results. First, it has been necessary to apply a lacquer solvent to soften the lacquer and then apply a cuticle softener before the cuticle is pushed back.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a single solution which will soften and enable the removal of finger nail lacquers and, at the same time, soften the cuticle so that it may be readily pushed back.

Although many solvents may be used to soften or remove the lacquer, such as acetone and butyl acetate, such solvents frequently make the polish smear upon removal so that ordinarily other substances are added to the solvent to keep the softened lacquer from smearing and staining the fingers.

The material of the present invention not only serves as an efficient remover of polish and as a cuticle softener, but also has the highly desirable property of not causing the softened lacquer to run or smear.

An essential part of the present invention is the use of sulfonated mineral oil. This acts as an effective cuticle softener. It has been found that sulfonated mineral oil is effective for this purpose While other sulfonated oils, such as animal and vegetable oils, are not effective.

I have found that by combining acetone or butyl acetate with dibutyl-phthalate, butyl acetyl ricinoleate and sulfonated mineral oil, a combination polish remover and cuticle softener may be made which has all of the above recited desirable properties.

In carrying out the invention, any sulfonated mineral oil may be used, but I have found that the material sold under the name of Sonaquol, manufactured by L. Sonneborn Sons, is particularly suitable for this purpose. In making the polish remover, it is only necessary to combine the various ingredients, as they are all miscible with each other, in the percentages used.

As a preferred embodiment of this invention, I first combine 85% by volume of acetone or butyl acetate with 5% by volume of dibutyl phthalate and 10% by volume of butyl acetyl ricinoleate. This produces a solvent solution and to 90% of the solvent solution, I add 10% by volume of sulfonated mineral oil, to produce the finished polish remover and cuticle softener.

The exact percentages of the ingredients named do not need to be used and I have found that the quantity of acetone or butyl acetate in the solvent solution can be varied from 60% to 90%, the quantity of dibutyl phthalate can be varied from 5% to 15%, and the quantity of butyl acetyl ricinoleate can be varied from 5% to 25%. In making the finished product, the quantity of the solvent solution can be varied from 60% to 95%, and the quantity of the sulfonated mineral oil can be varied from 5% to 40%.

A combination polish remover and cuticle softener, made in accordance with this invention, softens the polish readily, does not cause the polish to smear, does not irritate the skin, and does an eflicient job of softening the cuticle.

Instead of acetone or butyl acetate, other low boiling ketones may be employed. Perfumes or other materials may be added to my product in small quantities.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 306,295 filed August 25, 1952, now abandoned.

I claim:

1. A combination nail polish remover and cuticle softener comprising from 95% to 60% of a solvent solution and from 5% to 40% of sulfonated mineral oil, said solvent solution containing from 60% to 90% of a member selected from the group consisting of acetone and butyl acetate, from 5% to 15% dibutyl phthalate and from 5% to 25% of butyl acetyl ricinoleate.

2. A combination nail polish remover and cuticle softener comprising about 90% of a solvent solution and about 10% of sulfonated mineral oil, said solvent solution containing of a member selected from the group consisting of acetone and butyl acetate, 5% dibutyl phthalate and 10% butyl acetyl ricinoleate.

3. A combination nail polish remover and cuticle softener comprising about of a solvent solution and about 10% of sulfonated mineral oil, said solvent sol tion containing 85% butyl acetate, 5% dibutyl phthalate and 10% butyl acetyl ricinoleate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Carter Apr. 16, 1940 OTHER REFERENCES 

1. A COMBINATION NAIL POLISH REMOVER AND CUTICLE SOFTENER COMPRISING FROM 95% TO 60% OF A SOLVENT SOLUTION AND FROM 5% TO 40% OF SULFONATED MINERAL OIL, SAID SOLVENT SOLUTION CONTAINING FROM 60% TO 90% OF A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACETONE AND BUTYL ACETATE, FROM 5% TO 15% DIBUTYL PHTHALATE AND FROM 5% TO 25% TO BUTYL ACETYL RICINOLEATE. 